Huaypo Lake sits a little over half an hour from Cusco, in the province of Anta, and it is one of the few places in the Sacred Valley where you can still spend a morning without meeting a tour bus. This guide covers what you need in order to go: where it is exactly, how to get there on your own or with someone, what there is to do, and when to come.
We wrote it from the shore: we operate on this lake, so the times, altitudes and prices below are the real ones, not an estimate.
Where it is, exactly
Coordinates: −13.4019441, −72.1294444. Province of Anta, Cusco region, at 3,507 metres above sea level.
It lies west of Cusco, towards the Sacred Valley, on the same stretch of road that leads to Maras and the salt pans. The sector where you reach the water is called Chacán; the base for ATV rides is at Cruzpata. If you search for «Laguna Huaypo» on a map, the pin you get is the right one.
On Google Maps it holds 4.7 from 87 reviews, and what people mention most in them are the ATVs and the boats. That sums up fairly well what visitors come here to do.
Getting there
There are three ways, and what really separates them is how much time you are willing to spend on logistics.
On your own, by public transport. Cheapest option and the one that eats the most time: you head towards Anta or Izcuchaca and get off at the turning.
By taxi. Straight from central Cusco. The most flexible choice for a small group that wants to set its own hours.
On a tour. The transfer to the Cruzpata base takes about fifty minutes from Cusco. This is the option that makes sense if you want to paddle or ride, because you will not find the equipment there on your own: there are no kayak or ATV rentals on the shore.
What there is to do
Huaypo has no current and no swell, and that shapes everything else: it is an easy lake. You can kayak and stand up paddle with no previous experience, which is why it works with children and with people who have never stood on a board.
On land, the shoreline is packed-dirt farm track — not technical trail — and that is where the ATVs run. From the track you can see the Verónica and Chicón peaks for most of the ride, with the farmland of Anta all around.
You can also simply sit and eat by the water. That is what a lot of people from Cusco do on Sundays.
Which of the four options suits you
We run four different trips to this lake and they are not interchangeable. The real difference is how much time you have and how much adrenaline you want:
Half day, paddle and ATV (USD 55). Pickup at 8:30, back by mid-afternoon. Rated easy, groups of up to 10. This is the one to pick if you have just landed in Cusco or your afternoon is spoken for.
Huaypo and the salt pans by ATV (USD 60). Thirty kilometres off-road between 3,300 and 3,700 metres, two hours of riding to the lake and then the Maras salt pans by van. Rated moderate, groups of up to 12, two mechanics alongside the guide. The only one that pairs riding with heritage, and the most demanding of the four. Entry to the salt pans is S/20, paid separately.
Picnic and bull-painting workshop (USD 65). An hour of paddle boarding, a picnic lunch by the water and a Pucará bull painting workshop with local artisans; the bull goes home with you. Groups of eight, no physical effort, and the only one that runs all year.
Full day (USD 85). Guided kayak and paddle in the morning, Andean buffet lunch, ATV loop in the afternoon. Groups of 10, with oxygen support. This is the one that spends the most time on the water.
When to come
The dry season runs April to October, and that is when the water is stillest and the view reaches the snow peaks. From November to March it rains, mostly in the afternoon, and the dirt road to Cruzpata gets awkward.
Within the day, morning beats afternoon: the wind tends to pick up after midday, and on a paddle board you feel that a good deal more than in a kayak.
Altitude, which matters here
The lake sits at 3,507 metres and the ATV route climbs to 3,700. That is lower than parts of Cusco itself, but it is still real altitude, and you will be exerting yourself.
If you landed in Cusco less than two days ago, leave the kayak and the ATV for later in the trip and come to the picnic, which is stationary. Acclimatisation cannot be willed faster. Our full-day trips carry oxygen support, but that is a safety net, not permission to skip acclimatising.
Huaypo, Piuray or Humantay
These are the three lakes people compare when they search for lakes near Cusco, and they serve different purposes.
Humantay is the postcard: turquoise water at the foot of a glacier, at 4,200 metres, reached by a solid hour of uphill walking. It is spectacular and it is demanding, and in high season there are a lot of people at the same viewpoint.
Piuray is closer to Chinchero, supplies water to part of Cusco, and has water sports much like Huaypo. It is the most direct comparison.
Huaypo is the easiest of the three: no walking to reach the water, lower than Humantay, and it can be combined with Maras and the salt pans on the same outing. If you are travelling with children, with older relatives, or you have just arrived in Cusco, this is the one that makes sense.
What to bring
Sunscreen and sunglasses: the sun is strong at this altitude and the water doubles the glare. A hat. Warm layers even if the day starts sunny, because on an ATV the wind is the real cold. Closed shoes. A change of clothes if you are going to paddle. And some cash in soles, because the salt pans entry and any extras are paid in cash.
Frequently asked
Can you swim?
Do I need to know how to paddle? No. Every trip starts with an instruction session and the water has no current.
Do I need a licence to ride an ATV?
Is there anywhere to eat at the lake? Food is included on the full-day trip and the picnic.
How long from central Cusco? About fifty minutes to the Cruzpata base.
